French fry order sparks standoff with tomahawk, crossbow in Warren

WARREN — A local man armed with a large black tomahawk and a crossbow threatened his parents, the police and, earlier in the evening, a pizza deliveryman, all over a $3 order of french fries.

Jason F. Mckusick, 28, of 56A Spring St., is charged with two counts of kidnapping, six counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and seven counts of assault and battery on a police officer, as well as a single count of disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and attempting to commit a crime (armed robbery of an order of french fries).

Mr. Mckusick was arraigned Friday at Western Worcester District Court, East Brookfield, and is being held for a dangerousness hearing on Tuesday.

About 10:42 p.m. Thursday, a 25-year-old deliveryman from Des Pizza in West Warren said that Mr. Mckusick called to complain that the pizza parlor had forgotten to include his french fries in an order he'd had delivered. Mr. Mckusick said he wanted the french fries for free. The pizza deliveryman told him over the phone that he would have to pay for the fries, according to Police Officer Joseph R. Laflower's report.

When the deliveryman took the french fries to Mr. Mckusick's home, an irate Mr. Mckusick insisted he was not paying for them. When the deliveryman told him the fries were approximately $3, Mr. Mckusick allegedly produced a folding pocketknife and again said he was not going to pay. The deliveryman ran out and called police, the police report states.

When police arrived at the Spring Street apartment, the suspect's 53-year-old father came out of the apartment and said his 53-year-old wife (the suspect's mother) and their son were inside. The suspect's father told police he wanted to calm down his son, who was upset over the incident, before they entered to speak with him. A minute later, Officer LaFlower heard the mother yell, "Put it down," several times. Fearing that someone's life was in danger, Officer LaFlower entered the apartment, according to the report.

When Officer LaFlower opened the door, he saw Mr. Mckusick standing in the living room, approximately 10 feet away. In his left hand, Mr. Mckusick held a large black tomahawk, and in his right hand was a crossbow pointed at his own head. Officer LaFlower immediately drew his weapon and ordered Mr. Mckusick to drop the weapons, the police report states.

Detective Mark J. Chase had drawn his weapon and was standing in the doorway behind Officer LaFlower. Both officers had their guns pointed at Mr. Mckusick, according to the report.

Mr. Mckusick then pointed the crossbow toward the police. The two officers took cover, and Officer LaFlower still had his weapon pointed at Mr. Mckusick. Mr. Mckusick then pointed the crossbow back at his head and yelled, "You're going to have to shoot me!" the police report states.

Officer LaFlower told Mr. Mckusick's mother to step away from her son and attempt to retreat. Mr. Mckusick allegedly said that if his mother left he would kill himself, and then stated that no one was leaving. The suspect's parents pleaded with Mr. Mckusick to drop the weapons, according to the police report.

For the next five to 10 minutes, Officer LaFlower kept his weapon at the ready position and stayed in semi-cover while attempting to talk Mr. Mckusick into surrendering, the police report said.

When those efforts were unsuccessful, the West Brookfield Police, State Police and the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council SWAT team were called in and a perimeter was established around the residence, according to the police report.

Detective Chase eventually was able to get Mr. Mckusick to place the crossbow and the tomahawk on the floor. West Brookfield Police Officer Patrick Swain deployed his Taser and struck Mr. Mckusick in the chest, according to the police report.

Mr. Mckusick stumbled backward into a table and pulled the Taser probes off his chest and attempted to reach for the crossbow and tomahawk. Officer Swain charged Mr. Mckusick and grabbed his torso to stop him from getting to the weapons, the report states.

Officer Swain, who was pushed into a recliner, was using his Taser to "dry stun" the suspect in the chest, but it seemed to have no effect. Mr. Mckusick was eventually brought to the ground with the assistance of several officers.

Contact Craig S. Semon at csemon@telegram.com.

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